Actor Ichikawa DanjÅ«rō AS A SAMURAI 

Editor: This is a print of "Actor Ichikawa Danjūrō as a Samurai" by Katsukawa Shun’ei, currently at the Harvard Art Museums. I notice the actor’s intense gaze and the intricate details of his costume. How do we interpret the role of kabuki theatre in shaping cultural perceptions of samurai identity? Curator: Well, the kabuki theatre was hugely influential in shaping, and often mythologizing, samurai ideals for a wider audience. Consider how gender roles are being performed here. This actor, a male, is embodying a masculine figure, yet within the stylized and arguably effeminate conventions of kabuki. What does this tell us about the performance of identity and power? Editor: That’s a very interesting point. It’s like the print is reflecting a reflection, adding layers to the idea of samurai identity. I never thought about it that way! Curator: Exactly. And it speaks to art's power to both reinforce and subvert societal norms. I’m glad we could explore it together!